Gate-latch



S. Y. BEAM.

(No Model.)

GATE LATCH.

No. 540,086. Patented May Z8, 1895.

($3 m W @www ATTORNEY.

IINTTED STATES PATENT UEETCE.

SAMUEL YATES BEAM, OF NEAR NEW MARKET, VIRGINIA.

GATE-LA TCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,086, dated May 28,1895.

Application tiled September 4, 1894- Serlal No. 522,046. (No model.)

To aZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL YA'rEs BEAM, a citizen of the United Statesof America, rei siding near New Market, in the county of Shenandoah andState of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGate-Latches, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to4 the accompanying drawings.

The purpose of the present invention is to equip farm and other gateswith a latch mechanism convenient of operation from either approach bypersons on foot and mounted on horseback. Heretofore the latch has beengenerally placed upon the gate. By my invention it is proposed toarrange the latch on the gate post and the stop on the gate, therebyrelieving the gate and the hinges of much wear and strain which wouldresult if the latch were carried by the gate.

The invention will be better understood from the following description,reference being had to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 isafront elevation of a gate, showing the application of the invention.Fig. 2 is a side view.

y Referring to the drawings, the letters A and or gate way, the gate Cbeing hinged to the post B and the post A carrying the latch D.

rPhe gate C is of usual construction and hinged to the post B in anydesired manner. An arm E projects outward from the free end of the gateand strikes against the post A to limit the inward movement of the gateand is engaged by the latch D to fasten the gate shut. A lever F ispivoted between its ends to the outer end batten of the gate andnormally occupies approximately a horizontal position. The longer armoccupies a position above the top edge of the gate so as to be easilyreached from either approach to release the latch from the arm E when itis required to open the gate.

A support G extends from the post A and is slotted at its outer end andapertured near its inner end. The latch is carried by the support andcomprises a rod mounted in the support G and a keeper g near the upperend of the post A. The lower end 2 of the rod be low the support is bentoutward and inclines to the horizontal from the inner to the outer endso that the 'arm or stop E will ride thereon and compress the catchportion on closing the gate. This end 2 constitutes the catch and t-heouter end is formed into an eye which is seated in the slot at the outerend of the support and is held therein by a pin 3 on which the catchturns or works. The upper end 4 of the rod is bent outward to provide ahandle to be grasped by the hand or engaged by the lever F when it isrequired to disengage the catch from the stop or support G. A coilspring H is'mounted on the rod between the bent ends and is secured atthe lower end to the arm E and at the upper end to the inner end of thehandle 4. This spring exerts a lower pull on the rod and holds the catch2 in operative position to be engaged by the arm E.

1. The combination with a gate having a projecting arm, of the gate posthavingalaterally extending support, a rod mounted in a keeper and in thesaid support, the lower end of the rod being bent to form a catch andpivoted to the outer end of the support, the upper end of the rod beingbent to provide a handle, and a spring mounted on the vertical portionof the rod and exerting a down pull thereon, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a gate having a p rojecting stop, and a post forthe gate to close against, of a vertically movable rod on the squarepost having its lower end bent to provide a latch to engage with thestop on the gate, and having its upper end bent to form a handle, aspring arranged to exert a down pull upon the rod, and a lever pivotedbetween its ends to the upper portion of the gate, the short armarranged to come beneath the said handle, and a long arm so as to beeasily reached from either approach, substantially as specitied.

In testimony whereot` I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

t SAMUEL YATES BEAM.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL GARBER, EDGAR L. ZIEKLE.

